I thought it might be a net positive that The Strikes bit at the heels of The Pandemic; we all finally learned how to use our video conferencing tools to get organized around some collective action. There are now so many different online meetups across the producing sector alone that they sometimes delude me into thinking we are going to make some progress. It is kind of swell that I can have a different group conference each day; it makes me think I work in the film business -- even if I don’t have a movie getting made…
Good leaders run many of these groups and they are impressive. Participants truly seem to feel like now is the time to make some change. They are fired up. This time it is for real. And some groups actually advance issues and actions, and that keeps hope alive. Things do get better. Granted, some groups are also filled with a lot of hot air, so there’s that too, but hey, we all in it together and that counts for something. There’s some definite momentum, but is it enough to get the boulders over the hill?
It feels so good when the meet up groups’ consequent waves of inspiration hits… but then a day or two pass and I have to accept reality again: it is the same as it ever was.
Is it actually possible to move an industry or entire ecosystem into the realm of better practices and behavior, let alone logical and equitable priorities? I think I am more optimistic than most but even with all the new community action, when I stare out into the horizon I often just see a thick concrete slab stretching so high it blocks all the sunshine. If we climb out of this hole, we still have to scale those walls. How do we find the chink in the armor or the chip in the seal that allows us to peal it all away?
I am doing it. Or rather, I am trying. And it is not easy. Each day I work to psyche myself up to put up my dukes and draw blood. Back in the days when my body was strong and limber enough that I could wrestle and fight, I was immensely impressed with those on the team that could fuel themselves with such ferocity that they were an adrenaline rocket that could tear through the opposition at the sound of a bell. I of course was wrestling with other things: existential questions as simple as why are we doing this or anything? It is hard to play games when it feels like so much is at stake. The fact that everything is meaningless is quite meaningful.
And let’s be serious. I am only talking about movies here – be it making, releasing, or consuming them. They are only frickin’ movies! In the scheme of things , they probably rate 437 at best.
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